Environment-friendly antifoulants for the prevention of biofouling

Abstract

Environmentally-friendly alternatives to organometallic antifoulants that are efficacious at preventing biofouling by organisms such as the zebra mussel. Preferred antifoulant compositions utilize compounds having a Lipophilic-Amide-Spacer-ElectroNegative (“LASEN”) structural motif, such as capsaicin, and compounds having a TetraHydroCannibinoid (“THC”) structural motif. The antifoulant compositions are non-toxic, and effective.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of reducing aquatic biofouling on a surface comprising:
 adding an antifoulant compound to the aquatic environment in contact with the surface, wherein the antifoulant compound comprises: 
 (a) anandamide, having the structure: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (b) N-benzoylmonoethanolamine benzoate, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (c) N-(1-(hydroxymethyl)propyl)decanamide, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (d) Linoleyl ethanolamide, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (e) N-(2-(2-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)hydrazine)-2-oxoethyl)dodecanamide, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (f) O-2050, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (g) CP55,940, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (h) Noladin ether, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (i) AM630, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
       2. A method of reducing aquatic biofouling on a surface, comprising:
 contacting an antifoulant compound with the surface, 
 wherein the antifoulant compound comprises: 
 (a) anandamide, having the structure: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (b) N-benzoylmonoethanolamine benzoate, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (c) N-(1-(hydroxymethyl)propyl)decanamide, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (d) Linoleyl ethanolamide, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (e) N-(2-(2-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)hydrazine)-2-oxoethyl)dodecanamide, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (f) O-2050, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (g) CP55,940, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (h) Noladin ether, having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (i) AM630, having the structure: